KANSAS CITY — They don’t want this to be the end. They hope Kyle Zimmer hasn’t thrown his last pitch for the organization. They hope that some modicum of value (any?) can still be wrung from the damaged arm that dangles from his right shoulder.

Yet as the Royals reached Opening Day on Thursday, they hit a red line on one of the franchise’s most talented and star-crossed prospects. In a flurry of early-morning moves, the club designated former first-round pick Kyle Zimmer for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster. In announcing the decision, they prepared to move on from a right-handed pitcher who was selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2012 draft.

“It’s something we haven’t experienced here with a player of Kyle’s caliber,” Moore said.

It was a difficult decision. No front office wants to punt on a first-round pick. No general manager wants to part ways with talent. Yet it finally came to a head.